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The Beauty of Living Grid-free Volume 7, Issue 31

by Terry Wildman, Senior Editor

The following is a short list exploring the beauty of living off grid. It's all about living a self-sufficient lifestyle, one not dependent on outside resources because you create your own thereby reducing or totally eliminating your dependence on a system that could collapse at any moment.

Sustainable living means living without constantly consuming non-renewable resources. It's likely that one will actually be producing more than that consumed. This has the added benefit of not only providing for your family, but contributing to your local community through a like-minded network.

The use of renewable energy only makes sense. Using an energy source that is not renewable is getting more and more difficult. Fossil fuels are not renewable; at least at the rate we are consuming them. So it makes sense to use sources of energy that are completely renewable, and that can be shared. Renewable energy is also more sustainable long term.

When one realizes their own environmental responsibility is just as valuable as the next person's and that no one person's responsibility is less than another's to make this world a better place. We then come to a crossroads where we must, for the future of our children and their children, be more environmentally responsible, or there may not be an environment left for them.

Living off the grid is more practical because we reuse, recycle, and stretch the use of our resources to their maximum purpose.

Smaller footprint is one result of living off grid. You don't use as many resources and it cuts down on waste.

Less impact on the planet when you are off the grid. One lives life more in tune with nature, and as such, has less of a negative impact on the planet.

Healthier lifestyle. It's possible because one is generally more active. The benefits of physical activity and exercise overall, are innumerable.

Living off the grid is more rewarding for all the reasons listed on this page. When you factor in all the benefits of the off grid lifestyle, you realize there's really no other way to live that's more rewarding.

It makes you happy. Less stress and more activity create a feeling of contentment, and this creates happiness.

Getting back to our roots and where we come from. Our ancestors lived this way for tens of thousands of years. The story is the same all over the world. Looking back throughout human history there's one commonality that is universal. Save the fact we're all human beings, we all lived off the land as hunter-gatherers. We built things, created shelter, grew food, and tapped natural water sources to provide for our families and the village. Our tribe is humanity, and we've all done things the same way. Now, in modern times, with the advent of modern technology, things are done much more easily, and we're in a time of unprecedented advancement. Living off grid with high technology. Solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectricity, geothermal, and renewable biofuels power our world, while at the same time; we can connect back to basics.1

When we live sustainably it preserves the knowledge through the ages for generations to come. If we all lived in a consumer world we'd lose this precious knowledge and it would be lost forever. What would we do if we didn't preserve that knowledge by sharing it with our children, and the world? The advent of the internet and high technology allows us to share with the entire world, with the click of a mouse, the knowledge of our ancestors, forever preserving the knowledge for humanity.

Teaching future generations brings its own rewards, both for the student and the teacher. The beauty of it is that being off grid allows us to teach a new (old) way of living that everyone should know. The reward of the good feeling of teaching is just a bonus.

Sharing the experience of living sustainably with others is part of life. It's deeply fulfilling to share your experience with others, and adds to your sense of purpose. It also helps others at the same time. They will, in turn, share that experience with new-comers and so on. It's self-perpetuating, and furthers the advancement of knowledge.

The knowledge advances humanity - everyone's knowledge base builds atop the last. Like building blocks of sustainable living, it creates a foundation to build a better life.

Living off grid consumes fewer resources. When we live this way we actually create more resources than we use, and this benefits the local community.

Consumption of resources is running rampant, and needless waste is at an all-time high. To reduce waste and consumerism it's much better to create and produce resources. When you live a sustainable and renewable lifestyle you become a boon to society and create more than you use. This helps keep consumption to a minimum and sets a great example for others.2

Because you're living the lifestyle, you're leading by example. When you walk the talk, and live in this manner, it shows others there is another way to do things. That it doesn't have to be all about consuming, that you can give back, and still live a fulfilling and rich life.

It also goes without saying that it's better for our kids to see us live this way because it will help propagate awareness for the responsibility we have to live smarter lives.

When you live off grid, you tend to eat healthier food. Your food is healthier because you grow it without pesticides and without harmful chemicals through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The air is fresher in the country where most people are able to live off the grid. Considering that many in China are buying air now to breathe well, not much more needs to be said about that.

We get to be inventive and build infrastructure by living off grid. Things you wouldn't normally be able to make, and projects you wouldn't normally be able to tackle in the city. Like the next spaceship to Mars for example, or a time machine. Or maybe you could build a new kind of greenhouse that grows 100 pounds of food fruits and veggies per square foot. Now there's an idea.3

When you live the off grid life, you instantly become less dependent on the system, and more independent and self-reliant. You are no longer bound by a system which does not have your best interests in mind.

Connecting with nature is one of the most fulfilling parts of the lifestyle of off grid living. The connection with nature you have is much deeper and on a level much more profoundly satisfying than suburban life. Waking up each morning to the sounds of nature instead of honking horns, slamming doors and shrill sirens. Being able to walk outside in the morning and feel the crisp cool fresh country air while you sip your hot morning beverage while listening to the sounds of the birds singing, the cool morning breeze blowing, and the flock of geese browsing the edge of the lake, is the epitome of contentment and connection with the natural world.4

Once the initial technical, and apparatus outlay is made, the cost of living off renewable energy is next to nothing. One can't say fairer than that.